​Lerato Mailoane
The self-taught snooker champion Beatrice Monyake has been chosen to represent South Africa at the World Blackball Championship in Tangier, Morocco.
Beatrice (41) from Orlando East in Soweto is the first black South African woman to qualify to represent the country at the international competition scheduled from 8 to 15 October 2022.
She started playing pool at a local tavern as a hobby, little did she know it would take her places.
After winning local tournaments, she joined the Soweto Pool Association, a non-profit organisation that develops and administers league structures.
"When you make it to the trials that is when you see that this sport is serious and is not just a tavern sport as it's popularly known in the township."
She is currently the reigning champion of the Soweto Women Pool Championship, a title she won in 2021.
In March, she represented the country at the Africa Pool Championship Cup in Zambia where she finished fifth. 
Beatrice said the pool is a very expensive sport and currently does not have sponsorship. 
She has appealed to the public to help her raise R50 000 to cover her visa, flight tickets, food, and accommodation for the upcoming competition.